Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in London

When should you put up your Christmas tree? Well, it’s quite a minefield… The Catholic tradition is to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve or, if that’s a bit stressful, on the third Sunday of Advent.

Many Americans like to put their tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but you could also put it up 12 days before Christmas Day, on 13 December.

Good practical advice to follow though, is that of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association – for fresh-cut trees, they recommend holding off until 1 December at least, to ensure your tree lasts until the big day.

But where to buy the best? The Resident has compiled a list of London’s finest Nordmann Firs and Norway Spruces retailers in your local area…

West london

Shoots & Leaves, various locations
Shoots & Leaves has a number of stores in west and south west London – find them at Little Brook Green W6, Hammersmith Broadway W6, Acton Park W3, Eel Brook Common SW6 and Cleveland Park W13. The team goes to great lengths to visit the farms and hand pick every Christmas tree. You can collect it, have it delivered, order it online and even opt for the installation service.shootsandleaves.co.uk

The Christmas Forest, various locationsThe Christmas Forest group provides beautiful Christmas trees to Londoners while giving a little bit back to Mother Nature. For every tree sold a new tree is planted in Africa through Tree Aid, and so far the Christmas Forest has helped to plant over 170,000 trees. The Christmas Forest has two west London sites, at St John’s Church from 23 November until 24 December, and Ealing Common, open every day from 21 November until 24 December (both daily from 8am-10pm).Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green W10 4AA; christmasforest.co.uk
Ealing Common, Hanger Lane W5 3HN; christmasforest.co.uk

Pines and Needles, various locations
London’s go to Christmas tree delivery service delivers a variety of trees to hundreds of homes in London every year and has set up a number of pop-up tree shops around west London including Ealing, West Ealing, Chiswick, Maida Vale and Notting Hill. Most stores are open from 10.30am till 9pm everyday up until 21 December, but do check with the specific store before making the trip.pinesandneedles.com

Clifton Nurseries, Maida Vale
One of London’s oldest garden centres, Clifton Nurseries has been around since 1851. Here you’ll find Nordmann firs grown in sustainable forests in Denmark. The even have some top tips for caring for your Christmas tree here.5A Clifton Villas, Maida Vale W9 2PH; clifton.co.uk

Capital Christmas Tress at Chiswick School
Capital Christmas Trees is a joint initiative between Capital Gardens and Needlefresh Direct, a group of dedicated British Christmas Tree growers. You’ll find a wide range and of high quality real Christmas trees at a few locations across London, including Chiswick school on weekends 24-25 November, 1-2 December, Sunday 9 December and 15-16 December.Burlington Lane, Chiswick W4 3UN;capitalchristmastrees.co.uk

South West London

The Christmas Forest has various locations across London

The Christmas Forest, various locations
The Christmas Forest has a number of south west London Christmas tree shops. Head to Richmond Pools on the Park from 19 November till 24 December, the Ascension of the Lord Church on Lavender Hill, Battersea, from 23 November till 24 December, and Putney Leisure Centre on Upper Richmond Road from 22 November to 24 December.christmasforest.co.uk

Chelsea Gardener
The Chelsea Gardener has a selection of fragrant and colourful Christmas trees and will deliver and install throughout central London. The team will also take bespoke requests as far as tree sizes or styles are concerned. But if you want to drop by and hand pick your tree, then you’re free to do so. That way you can check out their range of festive decorations, too.125 Sydney Street, Chelsea SW3 6NR; chelseagardener.com

Pines and Needles, various locations
Pines and Needles have well and truly taken over south west London with eight different locations. Head to Barnes, Battersea Park, Fulham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon Park and Kingston and choose your favourite tree. They also offer various delivery, installation, decoration and collection services – just choose your level of service when ordering.pinesandneedles.com

Battersea Flower Station
The multi award-winning Battersea Flower Station promises quality and value. They offer next-day delivery on Christmas trees to most SW postcodes every day from 1-22 December. Choose form non-drop Nordmann Firs priced £34-£145, as well as fragrant traditional Spruces and potted trees.16 Winders Road, Battersea SW11 3HE;batterseaflowerstation.co.uk

Adrian Hall Ltd, Sheen
Adrian Hall is selling a variety of Christmas trees this winter, from non-drop to pot grown and traditional trees that’ll leave you with a cheeky carpet of needles but smell great! Sizes range from 1ft to 15ft. Head to the store in Sheen and let the garden experts help you pick out the perfect tree to decorate your home for Christmas.181 Upper Richmond Road, Sheen SW14 8DU; adrianhall.co.uk

The Garden Party, Nine Elms
The Garden Party has delivered quality Christmas trees to residents in south west London for more than 15 years. The team has been trained in horticulture and design, so they know a thing or two about Christmas trees and can accommodate all decorating requirements. You can order your tree decorated from £225, or undecorated from £65.276 The Flower Market, New Covent Garden Market SW8 5NB; thegardenparty.co.uk

Three Cheers Pubs in Clapham & Battersea
The Abbeville in Clapham and The Latchmere in Battersea, part of the Three Cheers group, are selling Nordmann Firs daily from 25 November right up until Christmas Eve, from 10am-8pm. Every tree also comes with a free glass of mulled wine or hot cider. Sweet! Simply pop to the pub and choose your tree, and perhaps even a festive wreath.threecheers.co.uk

South East london

Capital Christmas Trees at Greenwich Park
Find a sea of Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir to Noble Fir and Omorika Spruce at Capital Christmas Trees at the top of Greenwich Park. Available from 3ft to 12ft, pot-grown or cut-trees, the huge range of premium trees and knowledgeable staff at hand will help you find the perfect tree, and will even carry it to your car. Available every day from 28 November until Saturday 22 December, 8am-5.45pm.Blackheath Avenue, off Shooters Hill Road SE10 8QY; royalparks.org.uk

Pines & Needles at Brockwell Park
Pines and Needles returns to Brockwell Park with their hardy, non-drop Nordmann Firs. Their stores are re-stocked every morning with dozens of trees, ranging from 3ft to 9ft, which have been freshly cut and delivered straight from their plantations. You can also stay home and order online. Open daily from 8am-9pm from 24 November until 21 December. Pay and display parking is available on Dulwich Road, or free 30-minute parking on Norwood Road.Norwood Road, Herne Hill SE24 9BJ; pinesandneedles.com

King’s Christmas Trees, various locationsWhen you buy a King’s Christmas Tree you are helping the homeless through the Jericho Road Project. Your tree purchase helps put hot food on the tables at The Feast, a weekly drop-in centre that served 4,500 meals last year. Their premium Nordmann firs are freshly cut from sustainable growers in Scotland, and available from the Shaftesbury Centre in Deptford, JAGS in Dulwich, St Mary’s School in Beckenham and Bromley Road Retail Park in Catford.kingschristmastrees.org

The Rosendale, West Dulwich
The Rosendale in West Dulwich is offering up a free glass of mulled wine or hot cider with every Nordmann Fir sold. Available daily from 25 November right up until Christmas Eve, from 10am-8pm. Simply pop to the pub and choose your tree, and perhaps even a festive wreath.65 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich SE21 8EZ;threecheers.co.uk

Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club, Dulwich
The Christmas Forest is selling trees from 21 November till 24 December, from 8am-10pm, at Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club onDulwich Common. The Christmas eco-warriors cut their trees as late in the season as possible making them London’s freshest Christmas trees. There’s plenty of free parking on site and a local delivery service is available.Dulwich Common SE21 7EX; christmasforest.co.uk

East LONDON

Pines & Needles at Victoria Park & Shoreditch
Pines and Needles is back at multiple sites in east London with another great selection of firs and spruces. Open daily at Victoria Park from 24 November until 21 December, at the Old Truman Brewey on Brick Lane from 23 November-23 December, and from 21 November till 23 December at St Leonard Church in Shoreditch (all open from 8am-9pm). Note that Pines & Needles will deliver from the site and you can also order online. They also offer a decoration and recycling service.Royal East Gate, Grove Road E9 7HJ; pinesandneedles.com
St Leonard Church, Shoreditch High Street E1 6JN; pinesandneedles.com
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL; pinesandneedles.com

Columbia Road Flower Market, Bethnal Green
London’s famous flower market will be selling some of England’s finest Christmas trees every Sunday afternoon, and on their infamous Christmas Wednesdays. Enjoy the spectacle that is Columbia Road Flower Market and do a spot of Christmas shopping with a number of boutique stores selling old-school vinyls, handmade ceramics, artwork and antiques.Columbia Road, Bethnal Green E2 7RG; columbiaroad.info

The Christmas Forest at Lee Valley
The Christmas Forest’s sustainable Christmas trees are also available at Lee Valley Ice Centre in Hackney. Open daily from 23 November until 24 December, 8am-10pm, there’s plenty of free parking on site as well as a delivery service.Lea Bridge Road E10 7QL; christmasforest.co.uk

Broadway Market
Broadway Market’s yearly Christmas tree shop will be selling truckloads of trees throughout December. You can even choose your tree and keep it on hold while you stroll around the market, picking out artisan gifts.Broadway Market, London Fields E8 4QJ; broadwaymarket.co.uk

North London

The Christmas Forest, various locations
Pick up one of the Christmas Forest’s sustainable Christmas trees from various north London sites. The vast majority of their trees come from around the UK and for every tree sold, a new tree is planted in Africa. Open at Finsbury Park from 24 November to 24 December, at St Paul’s Church, Stoke Newington, from 20 November until 24 December, and at Alwyne Castle Pub in Highbury from 20 November until 24 December. All open daily from 8am-10pm. Delivery available.Hornsey Gate, Endymion Road N4 1EE; christmasforest.co.uk306 Amhurst Road, Stoke Newington N16 7UE; christmasforest.co.uk83 St Paul’s Road, Highbury N1 2LY; christmasforest.co.uk

Camden Garden Centre
A short walk from Camden Town Station and Camden Market, the area’s local garden centre stock a huge range of real Christmas trees. Head to the plantation to choose from thousands of cut and pot grown trees to take home or simply buy one online and have it delivered to your door. These guys have supplied the likes of No.11 Downing Street and countless other public spaces, so you know you’ll be getting a high quality tree.2 Barker Drive, Camden NW1 0JW; camdengardencentre.co.uk

Boma Garden Centre, Kentish Town
One of London’s most prestigious garden centres is rolling in hundreds of freshly cut Christmas trees for punters all around London to enjoy. Make your way over to their nursery and pick out a tiny tree for your small London flat for just £4 or go big this year with a 10ft tree for £169. They have an enormous range of Christmas tree varieties so its best you do your research before shopping.51-53 Islip Street, Kentish Town NW5 2DL; bomagardencentre.co.uk

IKEA, Tottenham & Wembley
Not just the destination for flat pack furniture and cheap meatballs, IKEA now also sells Christmas at all four of their Greater London stores (Tottenham, Lakeside, Wembley and Croydon). What’s more, buy a real Christmas tree £25 tree and you’ll get a £20 voucher to spend in store in January – deal! 6 Glover Drive, Tottenham N18 3HF; ikea.com
2 Drury Way, N Circular Road, Wembley NW10 0TH; ikea.com

Paramount Plants and Gardens, Enfield
Paramount Plants and Gardens has a great reputation when it comes to Christmas trees. Available throughout December, their quality living Christmas trees have root systems and are either potted or sold as rootballs so they can be planted in the garden after the holidays. They have a broad range of classic shapes and foliage colours, from blue grey to deep green.131 Theobalds Park Road, Crews Hill, Enfield EN2 9BH; paramountplants.co.uk

The Woodman Pub
Capital Christmas Trees is a joint initiative between Capital Gardens and Needlefresh Direct, a group of dedicated British Christmas Tree growers. You’ll find a wide range and of high quality real Christmas trees at a few locations across London, including the cosy Woodman Pub. Available every day from Tuesday 27 Nov until Sunday 23 December (8am-9pm).414 Archway Road, Highgate N6 5UA; capitalchristmastrees.co.uk

Online only

Good Elf
The workers at Good Elf can provide expert advice on choosing the best Christmas tree for your home and even deliver, decorate and collect the tree for you. They even have a two-hour hotline for those who need their tree in a hurry! They’ll deliver and setup your tree for a flat fee of £40, including a stand – if it’s in stock, they’ll deliver it. Good Elf also offers a collection and recycling service.goodelf.co.uk

Christmas Trees for Hire
Light Water Plants, an established plants company based in central London, decorates and delivers Christmas trees from homes, offices and commercial spaces. Pick a size, colour scheme and delivery date and your high grade Nordmann Fir, from 5ft to 15ft, is taken care of. Christmas Trees for Hire will also return after Christmas to pick it up.christmas-trees-for-hire.co.uk

Christmas Trees DeliveredFor 30 years, Christmas Trees Delivered has specialised in providing first-class quality Christmas trees, stands, lights and decorations. Available from the last week in November, their guaranteed no needle drop Nordmann and Noble Firs are superb bushy trees sourced straight from the plantation. They supply museums, embassies, churches, hospitals, tourist attractions and government buildings – as well as London homes.christmastreesdelivered.co.uk